'Downton Abbey: A New Era' Review

Arlington TX

22 May, 2022

4:12 PM

Description

By Joe Friar, Fort Worth Report May 21, 2022 Fans of the PBS show will gain the most from this second big-screen adaptation that, as the title suggests, is a bit of the passing of the torch. Of course, Robert Crawley the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville), and his American wife Cora Crawley the Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern) will always be around (they've overcome many obstacles during the show's run) but now its eldest daughter Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) who takes control over the daily operations of the Yorkshire country estate which gets a visit from Hollywood in the funny, sentimental, and delightful "Downton Abbey: A New Era". The success of "Downton Abbey" lies with creator, writer, and executive producer Julian Fellowes who after six seasons (2010-2015) and one feature film returns to broaden the Crawley family legacy with a new adventure that pits tradition against the modern age when Hollywood producer and director Jack Barber (Hugh Dancy) visits the estate to shoot a silent picture starring Guy Dexter (a terrific Dominic West) and Myrna Dalgleish (Laura Haddock). The year is 1928. Robert thinks it's a horrible idea, "Actresses plastered in makeup and actors just plastered" but he's reminded quickly by Lady Mary that the estate is in need of costly repairs, primarily the leaky roof, which the money forked over by the studio for renting Downton would more than cover. Former butler Mr. Carlson (Jim Carter) who remains an advisor to the estate also objects to a Hollywood invasion "A moving picture at Downton?!" However, the ladies think it's a wonderful idea and so the production company gets the green light, and the modern world invades the traditional country home. There are several subplots at play in "New Era" including one that involves family matriarch Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham (Maggie Smith) announcing that she's inherited a villa in the South of France from the now-deceased Marquis de Montmirail, whom she last saw nine months before Robert was born (hint hint) almost 70 years ago. She decides to bequeath the villa to great-granddaughter Sybbie daughter of former Downton chauffeur Tom Branson (Allen Leech) and the late Sybil Crawley. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.